Amarinder claims innocence in Ludhiana scam

At least 17 MLAs reached here to welcome Singh, as did a crowd of about 3,000 Congress workers raising slogans and carrying banners.

Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday claimed innocence in the alleged Ludhiana City Centre scam and accused the SAD-BJP government of indulging in "political vendetta" as he visited his hometown after more than a month.

At least 17 MLAs reached here to welcome Singh, as did a crowd of about 3,000 Congress workers raising slogans and carrying banners.

However, the factionalism in the state Congress also came to the fore, as PPCC chief Shamsher Singh Dullo and Leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, who had remained Singh's deputy in the last government, were conspicuous by their absence.

Also absent was Samna MLA Brahm Mohindra, who was recently criticised by Singh's brother Malwinder Singh for "not paying attention to the constituency after being elected". Malwinder was said to be keen to contest from the seat, but Mohindra got the party ticket.

Amarinder Singh had gone to London for medical check-up in the middle of March. Shortly after he went abroad, the Vigilance Bureau booked him and 18 others, including former Local Bodies Minister Jagjit Singh, in the LCC scam.

Talking to newspersons, Singh claimed his innocence in the case and said he was determined to fight the "political vendetta unleashed by the SAD-BJP government" against him.

"Neither myself nor any of my ministers were corrupt", Singh said adding, he had full respect for the judicial process and would seek the advice of legal experts in the case. He was quick to point out that it was he who had ordered the investigation into the scam.